Radical hospitality: Sanctuary, Solidarity and Sacrament.
Date Posted: Feb 18, 2025.
Inspired by the ministry of a church member who had housed, supported and advocated for many asylum seekers, the Church of St Chad & St Mark in the Parish of Central Wolverhampton discerned that God was calling them to radical welcome. Located in the area of Wolverhampton that, at the time, had the largest number of asylum seeker support accommodation in the city, and which now has two large hotels accommodating people as they await case hearings, they sought to rise to the challenge …
Sanctuary
The term sanctuary has dual meanings, not necessarily unrelated. It is seen as a term for a designated holy place or shrine, and also a place in which one can seek protection from persecution or from being hunted. Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal OBE points out that biblically the first offer of sanctuary is to God in the tabernacle and that this God, as with refugees, travels and moves with God’s people. (1) God in Jesus is also seen to experience persecution and the need to flee to another country when in the face of Herod’s wrath the holy family flee to Egypt. Up until the late middle ages churches were places that people could take sanctuary from unjust arrest, and there is also a recent history, particularly in the 80s and 90s, with immigration laws becoming
increasingly oppressive and restrictive that a number of churches offered sanctuary in the fight against deportations. (2)
In Wolverhampton the church began by developing welcome through celebrations that welcomed new arrivals, and celebrated the diversity of cultures that were living in their midst through music, dance and food. Increasingly these events were organised by people with lived experience of the asylum and migration system. Most of all, they sought to be a place of welcome and offered practical support where they could, and made their worship and community as accessible as possible and a sanctuary from hostility.
Solidarity
The church has sought to develop a focus on solidarity over charity, emphasising issues of social justice in their support to refugees and migrants. As has been argued this has four facets. In solidarity work:
- systemic problems are highlighted and seen as the core of problems rather than individual or group deficit
- those with ‘lived experience’ are seen as the experts and should be central to approaches to support and address issues concerning them.
- it is the users who are the primary focus of accountability, not funders or the institution itself.
- Solidarity can be expressed through prayer, believing and proclaiming that Holy Spirit moves though our love and compassion for our siblings in Christ.
Sacrament
The sacrament invites people into sanctuary in Christ whoever we are. At the Church of St Chad & St Mark the sacrament of Holy Communion is seen as a place to welcome those marginalised into the heart of God’s abundant feast, experience its power to transform their lives and the challenge of his loving judgement without visas, passports or interviews.
Sanctuary in Christ is about His victory over the powers of death through his grace. Entering into his resurrection we can gain comfort, hope, strength and power to resist the forces of evil. In our journey as refugees, migrants and
their allies we learn more of the truth of Christ’s victory, proclaimed by the late Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu:
Goodness is stronger than evil.
Love is stronger than hate.
Light is stronger than darkness.
Life is stronger than death.
Victory is ours through Him who loved us.
Learn more
Watch Ray talk about radical hospitality in this recording of our webinar: Extending the table: Generosity in our communities
*This is an edited version of a longer presentation exploring how the Church of St Chad's & St Mark in Wolverhampton developed a ministry of welcome over eight years to new arrivals in the city and the impact of that upon the church's mission.
Revd Ray Gaston has been Team Vicar of St Chad & St Marks in the Parish of Central Wolverhampton since 2015, and was an Associate Tutor at Ripon College , Cuddesdon from 2019 -2024. From 2008-2016 he was an Anglican Tutor at the Queens Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham and has served in parish ministry for over 25 years in inner city areas of Leeds, Birmingham and Wolverhampton. He has published books on Christian discipleship in multicultural and multifaith contexts.
References
(1) See Sanctuary-Bible-Study_FINAL_REVISED.pdf (churchofsanctuary.org) last accessed 06/03/24
(2) Batsleer, J. (1988). The Viraj Mendis Defence Campaign: struggles and experiences of sanctuary. Critical Social Policy, 8(22), 72-79.